Horse physiognomy in the narrow sense refers to judging the quality of horses by observing their appearance, structure, behavior, etc. It is a static and traditional method of physiognomy.
In terms of appearance and body structure (conformation), a horse’s head, shoulders, chest, abdomen, buttocks, legs, hooves, proportions of various body parts, skeleton structure, and walking posture are all factors that determine a certain horse. Elements of good and bad. Internally speaking, pedigree and temper are also very important.
Thoroughbred horse racing is an example. Although equestrian horses are similar, they are also different. A good racehorse must have the following characteristics:
1. The muscles must be well developed, especially the muscles of the chest and buttocks, so that they can exert more force when running;
2. The coat color should be bright, indicating better nutritional intake;
3. The eyes should be bright and alert;
4. The steps should be long when walking, especially the hind legs. It is strong and cannot walk with its front legs dragging its hind legs.
The picture below is a typical top race horse called "Sea the Stars" (English name: Sea the Stars). It has been retired as a stallion and its owner is a wealthy businessman from Hong Kong, China. , fostered at the Aga Khan Stud in Ireland.
As a racehorse, if you want to run the fastest and win the championship, the most important body parts are undoubtedly the legs and hooves, which is why there is a saying "no hoof, no horse" (no hoof, no horse) statement.
So horse trading and horse breeding practitioners pay special attention to the structure of horse legs and hoofs: there should be no serious deformities, such as "inside-out" or "outside-up", etc., and should be avoided as much as possible or surgically corrected at an early age.
The following comparison pictures are mainly about horse legs and hoofs. Idea is the most perfect structure, and the other ones have some flaws.
Front view of front legs
Side view of front legs
Front view of hind legs
Side view of hind legs
Chen Peter, a well-known horse racing expert and horse commentator in the Mainland, believes that horse racing is like looking at beautiful women, and they pay attention to "measurements": big breasts, thin waist, and big butt.
First of all, look at the horse’s chest. A large chest means that the horse has a large lung capacity. The horse will start very slowly, have a wide span, and exert force vigorously. Such a horse is coupled with two nostrils as big as tennis balls and a broad chin. The horse breathes majesticly and spits out unimpeded.
Secondly, a good horse needs a thin waist, and a good horse's body and waist should be "tightened" (tightening means that the front part of the abdominal line and the lower chest line are in the same line, and the back part gradually moves up and behind, and the sides are full and Yes, it’s full of lines).
Finally, let’s look at the horse’s rump. A "pear-shaped" appearance is the best. Because a running horse moves forward with its front legs, retreats and then pushes forward, relying on the force of the back pedal, so the horse's buttocks are better.
In addition to the "measurements", a good horse also needs a proud demeanor, so you need to pay attention to the horse's head.
The Horse-Xiang Sutra says: The horse's head is the king. If the head wants to be high, it will be like peeling off a rabbit's head. The horse's head should be high and handsome, with a thin face and little flesh, with obvious subcutaneous blood vessels. The forehead must be large, broad, and the ears should be straight and uniform in length. The forehead should form a line from the tip of the nose, light and small, and the corners of the mouth should be deep and long. , Fang looks very noble. Such a good horse has a smart, generous and noble look, and is full of energy and very attractive. The horse's head is located at the highest position of the whole horse. It is the central part and controls all parts of the horse's body, so it is very important.
In short, experience is very important for "Horses". No matter how much these theories are learned, keen observation must be obtained through long-term experience, otherwise a horse will pass by more than a dozen people in front of it. It’s impossible to tell whether it’s good or bad in seconds.